Del. Sandy Rosenberg

Maddy summaryHB 1045 updates Maryland's health insurance and family planning laws to align with current federal standards. It specifically expands the definition of "family planning providers" to include those who lost federal Title X funding due to service scope (like abortion access or referrals), ensuring Medicaid continues reimbursing them for services. The bill requires the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to maintain access to family planning services for these providers by establishing similar requirements to other providers and prohibiting restrictions on services within a provider's scope of practice. It also clarifies that the Maryland Insurance Commissioner and Civil Rights Commission share enforcement authority over health insurance discrimination.

Maddy summaryHB 436 repeals the 2-year expiration requirement for medical exemptions allowing tinted windows with less than 35% light transmittance in Maryland. It directly affects residents with medical conditions requiring enhanced window tinting (e.g., photosensitivity), who previously needed to renew certifications every two years. The bill removes the time limit from Section 22-406(i)(4)(ii) of the Maryland Annotated Code, allowing exemptions to remain valid as long as the medical need persists. This change simplifies the process for affected drivers by eliminating the need for periodic renewal. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 930 establishes Maryland's Public Health Abortion Grant Program to improve access to abortion care by redirecting excess funds from health insurance coverage. It requires insurance carriers in Maryland to transfer 90% of unused funds from their abortion coverage accounts (after covering patient costs) into a new special fund. This fund will support abortion clinical services, particularly where federal funding is restricted, benefiting individuals seeking abortion care in Maryland. The program mandates annual reporting by insurers and transfers existing excess funds starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1473 requires Maryland state departments, agencies, and programs to provide equal access to public services for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and disabilities. It mandates these entities to develop language access plans by July 2027, including accommodations like interpreters, sign language, and plain language materials. The Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs will oversee compliance, investigate complaints, and receive $400,000 annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to support implementation. The bill expands existing LEP protections to explicitly include disability accommodations under defined "equal access" standards.

Maddy summaryHB 466, the "Health Equality for Service Members Act," expands eligibility for Maryland's health, housing, and occupation programs to include members of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as "veterans" under state law. The bill revises definitions to clarify that "uniformed services" encompasses all such branches - not just the armed forces - and requires health, housing, and licensing laws to apply uniformly to all covered service members. This directly affects Public Health Service and NOAA personnel who previously lacked access to state programs designed for veterans. The law modifies specific sections of Maryland’s health, housing, and occupation codes to ensure consistent coverage across all uniformed services.

Maddy summaryHB 1007, the Genetic Testing Protection Act, prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies in Maryland from denying coverage, increasing premiums, or limiting benefits based on an applicant’s or policyholder’s genetic test results or requests for genetic testing. It directly affects individuals seeking or holding these insurance policies who undergo genetic testing. The bill blocks insurers from using genetic information (defined as test results not for diagnosis or therapy) to make coverage decisions, while allowing them to review standard medical records or diagnoses. It explicitly excludes routine blood tests, drug screenings, and family medical history (unless tied to genetic testing) from the prohibition. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 establishes Maryland's Adapted Vehicle Access Pilot Program to provide modified vehicles to eligible individuals who require a wheelchair for mobility, are licensed drivers, and qualify to operate adapted vehicles. The Department of Disabilities will administer the program, prioritizing participants in areas with limited public transportation access, and solicit donations of vehicles, modification services, and funds to support it. The bill requires the department to study the program's impacts on participants' independence, mobility, job opportunities, and reliance on public subsidies, with a final report due by December 1, 2028. The pilot program is set to run for five years, ending automatically on September 30, 2030.

Maddy summaryHB 699 defines "honorable discharge" for Maryland veterans' state benefits to include discharges that were less than honorable due to specific, protected factors. It directly affects veterans who received such discharges solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, or based on disclosures related to those factors (including statements/acts prohibited at the time), or because of PTSD/TBI diagnoses or sexual trauma disclosures made at VA facilities. The bill requires veterans to submit documentation supporting their discharge basis to access state benefits. It amends Maryland law to take effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 939 requires the Maryland Commission for Women to establish a collaborative group focused on improving access to over-the-counter birth control. The collaborative, including representatives from health departments, insurance, pharmacies, reproductive health organizations, and consumer groups, will study and recommend ways to implement existing coverage requirements. Specifically, it will examine pharmacy coverage, point-of-sale options, public health initiatives for underserved individuals, and consumer education to enhance access for Maryland residents who currently face barriers to obtaining over-the-counter birth control.

Maddy summaryHB 672 requires Maryland's State Department of Education and Department of Health to annually assess school health and wellness personnel (including counselors, nurses, psychologists, and therapists) across all public schools. The assessment tracks personnel-to-student ratios, vacancy rates by role, and collects feedback on recruitment and retention strategies from school systems and health departments. It also expands the Maryland Council on Advancement of School-Based Health Centers by adding a school nurse representative to its 16 voting members. Reports on these findings must be submitted to the General Assembly each December starting in 2027. The bill directly affects school districts, health centers, and the 10 designated health professional roles listed in the law.